Noam, Aviva Schalit meet with MKs

Schalit parents en route

By JPOST.COM STAFF, REBECCA ANNA STOIL, GIL STERN STERN HOFFMAN
aviva schalit 248.88 (photo credit: AP [file])
aviva schalit 248.88
(photo credit: AP [file])
Amid a flurry of media reports that after more than three years of deadlock, Hamas may agree this week to release St.-Sgt. Gilad Schalit, the captured soldier's parents Noam and Aviva were in the Knesset on Monday afternoon for meetings with cabinet members and parliamentarians, specifically those who might oppose exchanging Hamas prisoners for their captive son. "We think this is not time for pattering, but for deeds," Noam Schalit said at the Knesset, sitting next to Information and Diaspora Minister Yuli Edelstein, with whom he was later to meet in private. "We expect and want to see Gilad home after so many days, weeks, months and years, but that's not new," Schalit said. "We wish we had something new to say, but we don't." Earlier on Monday, the captive soldier's parents and brother Yoel spoke with negotiator Hagai Hadas at the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv, in a previously scheduled meeting. Upon exiting the meeting, Noam Schalit told the media he had nothing to say, and when asked if the talk was interesting, said: "I've had more interesting conversations in my lifetime." Meanwhile in Jerusalem, MK Aryeh Eldad (National Union) cast doubt upon the National Security Council's involvement in what might be an impending release of Hamas prisoners in return for Schalit. Standing outside a Monday meeting of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, during which parliamentarians were briefed by Uzi Arad, head of the National Security Council, Eldad said he received the impression that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu had not asked the National Security Council for its stance on the release of prisoners in exchange for Schalit. Earlier on Monday, rumors surfaced that Netanyahu would create a special committee to approve any potential Schalit deal due to fears that it would not get a majority in the cabinet. A government source, however, called the rumors "absurd."